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The Canadian Press hockey writers don't think the Stanley Cup is going far

Not only will the Stanley Cup not be returning to Canada this season, it's probably staying in California.

At least that's what a group of sportswriters for The Canadian Press concluded in their annual predictions ahead of the 2007-08 NHL season.

Bill Beacon, Robin Brownlee, Chris Johnston, Pierre LeBrun, Neil Stevens, Gregory Strong and Chris Yzerman answered a variety of questions about the upcoming year and the majority think the Cup will remain in the Golden State for another summer.

We found more consensus when it came to the NHL's scoring champion. Five of us believe Sidney Crosby will be at the top for a second straight year - with a point total ranging from 120 to 168 - and if that's the case, he may well take home a second Hart Trophy as league MVP.

On the flip side, we know some players will disappoint and it becomes pretty evident here why we are so low on the Edmonton Oilers. Penner and new teammates Joni Pitkanen and Sheldon Souray each were nominated in the category of players on the verge of a disappointing season.

There will be no disappointment in Detroit this year. Our panel unanimously picked the Red Wings to take advantage of all those games against weaker Central Division opponents and win the Presidents' Trophy as the best regular-season team.

Six of our seven voters think Phoenix will finish dead last in the league.

"They stink," said one writer.

Of course, the playoffs are what every team is gunning for. We don't envision much change in the Western Conference power structure - the majority of our panel believes that Nashville will be the only team to miss the playoffs after making them a year ago. We have the Colorado Avalanche replacing the Predators.

There should be more of a shakeup in the East. Our writers believe that the Islanders, Atlanta and possibly Tampa Bay (we were split) will be knocked out. We think that Washington, Toronto and Philadelphia will be on the rise.

A disappointing start to the season will no doubt cost at least one coach his job. With seven votes we came up with six different names for the first to be let go: Marc Crawford (Los Angeles), Wayne Gretzky (Phoenix), Bob Hartley (Atlanta), Mike Keenan (Calgary), Jacques Lemaire (Minnesota) and Craig MacTavish (Edmonton).

While it seems unlikely that Gretzky would ever be fired or that Keenan could be let go just months after taking over the Flames, keep in mind that few would have predicted Ken Hitchcock would be the first shown the door last year. And Philadelphia fired him just three weeks into the season.

It can be a tough business.

Fortunately, it's not all bad news. Only two of our writers think there will even be one failed drug test in the league this season and we all expect to see at least five players score 50 goals. Only two hit that mark last season.

If early ticket sales are a barometer, the outdoor game in Buffalo between the Sabres and Penguins will be a success. Our writers think it'll be plenty cold enough, too - only one of us believes the temperature will be above freezing.

Five of us think it will be minus-15 or colder. If that is indeed the case, all those fans best bring their tuques.